SEER,Vol. 8i, No.2, Aprzl 2003 The Finnish Cadet Corps, I 8 I9- 1903: A Reflection of FinnoRussian Relations and the Language Conflict in Finland J. E. 0. SCREEN FORmuch of the period I809- I9 17, when Finland formed part of the RussianEmpire,littleor no Finnisharmyexisted.Yetfrom I8I2 to 1903 Finlandpossessedanofficer-training establishment. Thefirstwas the FinnishTopographical Corpsat Haapaniemiin easternFinland, foundedby the Emperorin i 812, butwhichdrewon traditions from theearlier periodofSwedishrule.However,in I8 I9 theTopographical CorpswasreformedbytheRussiangeneralstaffastheFinnishCadet Corps and moved to Hamina in south-easternFinlandwhere its teachingresumedin March i821. By the time of its closurein July I903theCorps,withitsprecursor, hadadmittedi ,607cadetsofwhom 955 had passed out as officers.Its alumni attaineddistinctionas soldiers,in administration and other activities.Althoughsmall in numbers, theCorpshadbeenanimportant educational establishment. ' The aim of this articleis to show how changesin Finnishsociety, particularlythe shift towards the Finnish language, and in the relationship betweenFinlandand Russiaaffectedthe Corpsand led ultimately toitsclosure.Theemphasis willbeontheCorps'lastyears. I The foundationof the Topographical Corpsand the FinnishCadet Corps demonstratedimperialfavour to newly-conquered Finland. J. E. 0. Screen was Librarian of the School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University of London, I972-98. The author gratefully acknowledges financial assistance for this research from the Finnish Cultural Foundation (Kymenlaakso). l A new history of the Finnish Cadet Corps by J. E. 0. Screen and Veli-Matti Syrjo is to be published in Finnish by Tammi, Helsinki, in 2003. Older histories are: (Carl Enckell), Finskakadettkdren. I8I2-I887 (hereafter, Finskakadettkdren. I812-I887), Fredrikshamn, 1890; Carl Enckell, Finskakadettkaren I887-I903 . . ., Utgiven med en inledning avJ. E. 0. Screen (hereafter, Enckell, Finskakadettkdren), Helsingfors, I990; G. A. Gripenberg, Finskakadettkdren ochdesskamratskap, Helsingfors, I9 I 2. 2I8 J. E. 0. SCREEN Alexander I wanted to win the supportof the Swedish-speakingupper class whose leaders were anxious to demonstrate their loyalty to the Emperor.2 Those serving in the Senate the autonomous Grand Duchy's 'government' -were also eager to provide educational and career opportunities for the upper class, in particular its poorer members.3Fundedprincipallyby Finlandbut with a contributionfrom Russia,the Corpshadfrom I832 an establishment of 120 cadetsand trained Finnish upper-class boys to become army officers. Because there were few opportunities for military service in Finland most entered the Russian armywhere they acquireda reputationfor loyalty and efficiency.4From I836 the Corps became subordinateto the chief of the Russian military educational institutionsinstead of the chief of the general staff and was administered like a Russian cadet corps.5 However, from I843 Finns were always appointed as director of the FinnishCadet Corps. Until the I86os Finnishand Russianinterestsin the Corpscoincided. To the Finns it provided a free or subsidizededucation for the sons of the nobility, officers,civilian officialsand clergy while simultaneously demonstrating Finland's loyalty to the Empire. To the Russians the Corps provided a valuable link with Finland and a small but helpful sourceof officersat a time when relativelyfew officershad been trained in militaryeducationalinstitutions. From the I86os onwards the Finnish Cadet Corps became exposed to challenges to its character and even its existence from a rapidly changing Finnish society. The old society of the four estates (nobles, clergy, burgesses and peasants) began to crumble. An individual's socialoriginbecame progressivelylessimportantaseducation,manners and wealth became determinants of social position.6 As this process continued, the socially exclusive Finnish Cadet Corps ceased to correspond to the expectations of an increasinglyliberal and sociallymobile educated society. At the same time the potential for conflict between Finland and Russia increased. Finnish readiness to perceive Finland as a separate 'state' was unacceptable to a more integrated and nationalist Russia. 2 On the revival of officer training in Finland see Carl von Bonsdorff, 'Militarfragor vid ryska tidens borjan', Fdrhandlingar ochuppsatser, I8, I9 I8, pp. 14I-54; Keijo Elio, Otto ''aarle von Fieandt suomalainenupseerikouluttaja, Helsinki, 1973, pp. 6I-87; Finska kadettkaren. I8I2-I887, pp. 6-i8. 3 Kansallisarkisto (National Archives of Finland, hereafter, KA), Valtiosihteerinviraston arkisto (Archive of the State Secretariat, hereafter, VSV), I87 OD 22. 4 'AVralandsmdn'.Finnish Officersin Russian Service,I809-I917.- a Selectionof Documents, compiled byJ. E. 0. Screen, Abo, I984, pp. 143-45. 5 Polnoesobranie zakonovRossiiskoiimperii,Sobranie 2-e, XI, St Petersburg, I837, no. 9076; Sota-arkisto (Military Archives of Finland, hereafter, S-Ark.), M276/ i, Akti 138. 6 Kaarlo Wirilander, Herrasvdked. Suomen saatylaisto 172I...